Automatic trap primer valve



y 1954 H. E. eoss AUTOMATIC TRAP PRIMER VALVE Filed Oct. 20, 1961 INVENTOR. HARRY E. 6055 5, 1 mxZM. wm/

FIG. 2

A T TORNEVS United States Patent 3,134,392 AUIGIKATXC TRAP ZRIMER VALVE. Harry E. Goss, 2599 Webster St, Palo Alto, Calif. Filed Get. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 146,562 2 Claims. (Si. 137-118) This invention is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 830,347 filed July 29, 1959 now abandoned, and relates to an automatic trap primer valve, and has for one of its objects the provision of a simple, economically made primer valve that is dependent solely upon the velocity of the water flowing through a pipe line for opening the valve rather than the water pressure, and which valve is more reliable in its operation than heretofore.

Another object of the invention is thhe provision of a trap primer valve that is constructed so as to preclude its becoming inoperative due to liming or the deposit of loose solids in the water, such as sand etc.

Conventional primer valves most commonly employed eretofore have a vertically extending valve stem extending through an opening in a horizontal partition that divides the main passageway in a valve body into an upstream side and low stream side. A valve actuator on the upper end of such stem has usually consisted of a relatively heavy member that has a portion equal to but not exceeding the diameter of the opening in said web, and that either slidably extends into the opening or is so closely positioned to the edges of the opening as to close the latter. Such devices are responsive to the pressure of water passing through the body of the valve for opening the primer valve, since the pressure differential between the upstream and downstream sides of the opening is essential to lifting the weighted valve actuator.

The main objections to such structure are that deposits of lime or foreign material between the valve actuator and the opening in which it is adapted to fit will cause the primer valve to be held open at all times, and also normal variations in the movement of water through the main conduit that supplies water to the primer valve make the pressure responsive valve actuators unreliable.

Attempts to overcome the above objections have been made by eliminating the partition that divides the passageway within the valve body into an upstream and downstream side, and to utilize a valve actuator alone for so dividing its passageway with the actuator movable in a direction at right angles to the flow of Water, instead of moving in the same direction as such flow. Such devices have not been adopted for the reason that the devices are necessar'dy driven laterally by the water against guide means that results in restricting the free movement of the actuator and primer valve in the desired direction. The greater the velocity of the water in such devices the greater the resistance to actuation there of, and here again, any deposits on the Walls of the passageway in which the actuator is position quickly increases the frictional resistance to the free movement of the actuator essential to acomplishing the desired results.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure that overcomes the objections to prior devices as above described.

An additional object is the provision of an improved primer valve actuator that is more sensitive to movement under the velocity of the water than heretofore.

A still further object is the provision of simple means that prevents the passage of solids, such as fine particles of sand or the like, to the primer valve seat and to the primer valve, and which means cannot interfere with the actuation of the primer valve and which device is automatically installed in the main valve body at the 3,134,392- Patented May 26, 1964 same time the primer valve, actuator and valve stem are installed, and is carried by the assembly that comprises the primer valve, actuator and valve stem for insertion and for removal from the valve body as a unit therewith.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the drawings and in the description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a semischematic view illustrating one position of the primer valve in a domestic water system.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of the improved preferred form of the primer valve in closed position.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the valve in open position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the valve that corresponds with structure shown in the application of which this is a continuation-in-part.

In detail, referring to FIGS. 1, 2, the primer valve body is generally designated 1, and this body may be positioned in a pressure service line in which pipe 2 is at the upstream side while pipe 3 is at the downstream side of said body.

Pipe 2 is connected with the inlet 4 while pipe 3 at the opposite side of the body from inlet 4 connects with the outlet 5 of said body. This pipe 3, which is at the downstream side, may connect with a conventional valve in the water reservoir 6 of a conventional toilet or with a conventional flush valve or with any other valve which, when opened, results in a flow of water through the valve body 1 from the inlet side to the outlet side thereof.

A drain line 7 extends from a drain opening 8 (FIG. 2) at the lower end of the valve body 1 to a pipe 9 (FIG. 1) that may connect a drain 1% with the sewer. Pipe 9 normally has a conventional water trap 11 therein to prevent sewer gas from flowing back past the trap and into the house.

The water that is normally held in the trap 11 will eventually evaporate, and it mustbe maintained at a level sufficient to close the pipe 9 to a flow of sewer gas therepast, in order to perform its function. It is the function of the primer valve to automatically pass a small amount of Water into the trap 11 so as to maintain the necessary water level in the trap, each time a fixture or valve at the downstream side of the primer valve is actuated, and the amount so passed, preferably, should not exceed a rate of approximately two quarts per minute at a line pressure in pipe 2 of approximately 50 lbs. per square inch when a valve associated with the downstream pipe 3 is opened so that water will pass through the body 1 from the upstream to the downstream side thereof. This rate of flow to the trap 11 is, of course, in the interest of economy, and has been found to be satisfactory under normal circumstances. However, should the primer valve stick in an open position, or should it fail to close by reason of some obstruction, there will be a substantial and costly waste of water. By the same token, unless the primer valve promptly opens substantially uniformly, irrespective of variations in water pressure in line 2,, there may be an inadequate amount of water pass to trap 11 to maintain the necessary Water level in the trap to prevent passage of sewer gas past the trap.

Referring to FIG. 2 the body 1 has a partition or web 13 therein that divides the main passageway through the body from inlet 4 to outlet 5 into an upstream chamber or side 14 that communicates directly with pipe 2 and inlet 4, and a downstream chamber or side 15 that com municates directly with outlet 5 and pipe 3.

The inlet 4 and outlet 5 are preferably coaxial so that pipes 2, 3 will be coaxial.

Partition or web 13 has a horizontal portion 16 that end in a horizontal annular valve seat 21.

3 is formed with a relatively large, circular, vent-ically directed opening 17 therein having a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of pipes 2, 3 so as not to noticeably impede or reduce the rate of flow from pipe 2 to the faucet or outlet in pipe 3 when such faucet jor outlet at the downstream side of the body is opened.

The lower end portion of body 1 is a downwardly 7,

extending tubular extension 18 on the portion of the body that is directly between pipes 2,3, and the lower end of this tubular extension is formed with drain opening or outlet 8 in which pipe 7 is secured.

Spaced above the upper terminating end of pipe 7 within said extension 18 is a radially inwardly projecting annular flange .19, the radially inwardly facing surface of which flange is threaded for threaded connection with a vertically elongated tubular member that projects upwardly at its upper end to a level spaced above the upper side of flange 19 and that terminates at its upper The upper end of said member 20 is preferably bevelled or convergently tapered toward the central axis thereof in an upward direction so that the annular seat 21 will be a narrow edge adapted to form a line contact with a valve member. The lower end of member 24} may be formed with a radially outwardly projecting head 23 adapted to support a gasket 24 between said head and the lower side of the flange 1-9, and also said head may be formed for engagement with a conventional tool, such as a screw driver, spanner wrench or a socket or jaw wrench, as desired, in order to enable quick removal of the member 20.

A valve member 25, preferably of rubber, a suitable plastic, or other nonmetallic material, is adapted to be seated against valve seat 21, and this valve member may be secured on the lower end portion 26 of a relatively the vertically extending, open-ended central passageway 28 in tubular-member 20.

The portion 26 of stem 27 is relatively thin, and is thinner than the internal diameter of passageway 28 so as to be loose in said passageway, leaving suflicient space to permit water -from the upstream side ofthe web 13 at a pressure of approximately 50 lbs. per square inch to flow in passageway 28 past the portion 26 of stem 27 at a rate of about two quarts per minute when valve member is fully open.

Member 25- is supported on stem 27 against the lower side of a cylindrical weight 29 that is securedto the stem 27, or that may be integral therewith, so as to be an enlargement of the stem. This weight 29 functions to form a backing for member 25 and provides a gravity actuated aid to insure a quick closing of valve member 25 to close passageway 28 when the water in the valve body 1 is static. Obviously weight 29 is not influenced by the pressure of water flowing through the body -1 of the valve from the inlet to the outlet therein, being at the lower end of the stem below the partition 13. 'It is to be noted that the flow of water downwardly in the space between the alls of the extension 18 and the weight, accelerates the speed at which the valve member 28 closes, where said space between said weight and the walls of extension 18 is relatively small, as shown in the drawing.

The upperend portion 30 of stem 27; extends centrally through the opening 17 in the partition 16 and projects upwardly through the downstream chamber 15 and'into the lower open end of a remiss 31 formed in a screw plug 32 that is threadedly held in opening 33 in the upper side of body 1. Opening 33 is. coaxial with the extension opening 17.

The diameter of opening -17 and the inside diameter of extension 18 arepreferably substantially the same,

while the portions 26 and 300i stem 27 are preferably ly of the opening 17 a substantial distance.

of a thickness, that is a very small fraction of the diameter of opening 17. Preferably the diameter of portions 26, 30 of the stem is about one-fifth the diameter of opening 17. Thus, the influence of the stem itself on the fiow of water is negligible, except where portion 26 extends through passageway 28 so as to meter the'water passing through said passageway. In any event, the portion of the stem extending through opening 17 should be substantially smaller than the diameter of opening 17.

Centrally secured to the portion 30 of stem 27 that projects vertically into'and across the downstream chamber 15 is a circular, thin, light weight disc 35, the marginal portion 36 of which is in vertically lapping relation to the marginal portion of the partition 16 around opening 17 in the latter, and which marginal portion 36 exof the disc through which the stem 27 extends and to tends convergently upwardly toward the central portion which the stem is secured. The total width of this overlapping marginal portion at opposite sides of the opening 17 preferably equals approximately one-thi-rd to onehalf the diameter of the opening .17.

The disc 35 is also widely spaced at its edges from all of the walls of the downstream chamber 15 except the portion 16 of the partition wall, the minimum distance being substantially no less than the above mentioned total degree of overlap of the marginal portions of disc 35 and the partition around opening 17.

By the above structure there is no noticeable resistance to passage of water between the edges of the disc and the walls of the downstream chamber when the water flows through opening 17 from the inlet 4 to outlet 5.

When the valve member 25 is sealed on seat 21, the seat 21 will hold the disc 35 so that its generally downwardly directed outer edge will be spaced a relatively 'short distance above the upper surface of the partition or web 16 along an annular line spaced radially outward Thus an annular laterally directed passageway is provided between the portion of the disc 35 around the vertically directed opening 17, which passageway is variable according to the velocity of the water. It is obvious that the disc 35 thus effects a substantially right angle change in the direction of flow of the water through opening -17.

Upon opening a valve in a pipe connected with the downstream side of body 1 the water in pipe '2 will flow through body 1 and opening 17 and the disc 35 will instant-ly respond to the velocity of the water passing through opening 1 7 by moving upwardly to thereby valve member 25 oi the valve seat '21 for passage of Water to trap 11, when sufiicient velocity is reached.

Disc 35 moves upwardly substantially the distance indicated in full line in FIG. 3 and the upper portion 30 of stem 27 will move upwardly within recess 31. However, a part of said upper portion'30 will at all times be disposed in recess 31 except, of course, when the plug 32 is removed. The closed upper end of the recess 31 is positioned relative to the passageway 28 in tubular member 20 so that the lower end portion 26 of the stem 27 will not under any circumstances be moved out of the passageway 28. V 7

When the valve or valves in any pipe or pipes at the downstream side of chamber 15, and in communication with said chamber, are closed, the water pressure within the chambers 14, 15 at opposite sides of partition 16 will be equalized, and if desired, a small opening, 39 may be .formedin a portion of'said partition spaced from the opening 17 to expedite this equalization of pressure, and one or more small openings may be formed in disc 35.

In order to preclude any sand or other solids from passing to the passageway 23 from chamber 14,'a tubular screen 44) of fine woven wire is loosely supported at its lower edge on the upper surface of flange 19, which screen is provided with a head 41at its upper end, through which head the stem 27 loosely passes, andwhere head T his head is substantially at the point where the tubular extension 18 joins the main and larger body of the valve, hence any sediment that may enter the chamber 14 will pass downwardly over the lower side of the chamber 14 into the tubular extension in the space between said screen 40 and the inner sides or said extension.

The inside diameter of said tubular screen is greater than the outside diameter of the enlargement 29 that is secured to stem 27, and the vertical length of the screen from its lower edge to head 41 is such that the enlargement 29 on the stem 27 will not engage the screen when the stem is elevated its maximum distance by the action of the water flowing through the valve body. However, when the plug 32 is removed, the stem 27 and screen 49 may be lifted out or" the valve body as a unit, and any sediment that may have collected around the screen may be flushed out of the body.

in FIG. 4 is a modified form of the invention in which substantially the only difference between the structure shown therein and in FIGS. 2, 3 is a fiat disc 45 on stem 27 instead of the umbrella-like disc 35. Nor is the screen shown in FIGS. 2, 3 shown in this view. However, the marginal portion or" the thin, circular disc 4-5 laps the marginal portion of the partition 46, that is comparable to the partition 16 in FIG. 2, a substantial distance. In FIG. 4 said marginal portion is formed with a slightly raised annular ridge, which is not shown nor used in FIGS. 2, 3.

It may be noted that in both forms of the invention the 'alve actuating member or element .35 or 45, which element in each instance may be called a valve actuator, is a thin, circular disc of neglibigle weight as is the portion of the stem above the weight 29, and this weight is at the lower end of the stern in the drain portion of the valve body.

in both forms of the invention the valve actuator extends a substantial distance, in lapping relation, over the marginal portion of the opening in the partition that divides the valve body into an upstream charnber and a downstream chamber, thus substantially changing the direction of the flow of water and maintaining this change of direction after the disc is elevated by reason of the how of water.

The form of disc 35 is preferable to the flat disc 45 since it is more responsive to flow.

The disc 45 is the same as has been disclosed in the drawing in my said copending application as well as is the valve body. In both forms of the invention the opening 17 and the inside diameter of the downward extension 18 are similar, except that the inside diameter of the extension is slightly greater in FIG. 4.

It is of importance that none of the portions of the movable part of the valve, such as the stem, valve actuator, weight 29 have portions in close or even relatively close sliding lit with any stationary portion of the Valve body or any part stationarily connected therewith, and particularly that the actuator be well spaced from all walls of the downstream chamber, except the horizontal portion 16 partition wall, and that said disc be so positioned as to be free from any side thrust that would force the upper and lower ends of the stem laterally into substantial frictional engagement with a side of recess 31 or passageway 28, or that would tend to cock the disc or stem to one side.

It may be noted thatthe wall of the extension 18 in FlG. 2 is formed with a horizontally elongated opening 34 that functions as a vacuum breaker. This is conventional, however, in primer valves.

It is to be understood that departures may be made from the specific structure shown, that come within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing lg from the principles of the invention, and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

1 claimi 1. A primer comprising:

(a) a hollow body adapted to form a section of a liquid pressure line,

(b) said body having a horizontally disposed partition therein dividing the interior of said body into an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber with said upstream chamber extending below said partition and with said upstream chamber extending over said partition,

(0) an inlet in a wall of said body opening into said upstream chamber and (d) an outlet opening into said downstream chamber,

(e) the walls of said upstream chamber having a vertically downwardly extending tubular extension defining the walls of a vertical passageway opening into said upstream chamber at its upper end and open at its lower end for connection with a drain pipe,

(f) said extension having a radially inwardly projecting wall adjacent to its lower end provided with (g) a vertically directed metering opening coaxial with said passageway and spaced a substantial distance from the walls of the latter and having (/2) an upwardly directed annular valve seat around said metering opening coaxial therewith,

(i) said partition being formed with a large vertically directed partition opening relative to the size of said metering opening,

(j) a straight vertical stem extending through said partition opening coaxial therewith and downwardly into said passageway and through said metering openspaced from the sides of said opening,

(it) a valve member secured to said stern within said passageway substantially spaced from the walls of the latter and removably seated on said valve seat for closing said metering opening to flow of water tlierethrough;

(I) a thin horizontally disposed valve actuator disc centrally secured to said stem,

(in) said disc having an outer marginal portion extending divergently downwardly and terminating in a free generally downwardly directed edge spaced a substantial distance radially outwardly of the sides of said partition opening and over and spaced above the upper surface of said partition,

(n) said stern including said disc and valve member being vertically movable upwardly as a unit under the influence of water flowing upwardly through said partition opening and against the underside of said disc, and movable downwardly solely under the influence of gravity to seating position of said valve member against said valve seat when the water within said body is static.

2. in a construction as defined in claim 1,

(0) gravity actuatable means adjacent to said valve member and concentric with and secured to said ste adapted to stabilize said stem upon downward movement thereof and to facilitate relatively rapid seating or said valve member against said valve seat upon said downward movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,147,840 Bowser July 27, 1915 1,967,644 Williams July 24, 1934 1,967,645 Williams July 24, 1934 1,985,647 Smith Dec. 25, 1934 2,154,811 Goss Apr. 18, 1939 2,646,060 Ponsar July 21, 1953 

1. A PRIMER COMPRISING: (A) A HOLLOW BODY ADAPTED TO FORM A SECTION OF A LIQUID PRESSURE LINE, (B) SAID BODY HAVING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED PARTITION THEREIN DIVIDING THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY INTO AN UPSTREAM CHAMBER AND A DOWNSTREAM CHAMBER WITH SAID UPSTREAM CHAMBER EXTENDING BELOW SAID PARTITION AND WITH SAID UPSTREAM CHAMBER EXTENDING OVER SAID PARTITION, (C) AN INLET IN A WALL OF SAID BODY OPENING INTO SAID UPSTREAM CHAMBER AND (D) AN OUTLET OPENING INTO SAID DOWNSTREAM CHAMBER, (E) THE WALLS OF SAID UPSTREAM CHAMBER HAVING A VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING TUBULAR EXTENSION DEFINING THE WALLS OF A VERTICAL PASSAGEWAY OPENING INTO SAID UPSTREAM CHAMBER AT ITS UPPER END AND OPEN AT ITS LOWER END FOR CONNECTION WITH A DRAIN PIPE, (F) SAID EXTENSION HAVING A RADIALLY INWARDLY PROJECTING WALL ADJACENT TO ITS LOWER END PROVIDED WITH (G) A VERTICALLY DIRECTED METERING OPENING COAXIAL WITH SAID PASSAGEWAY AND SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM THE WALLS OF THE LATTER AND HAVING (H) AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED ANNULAR VALVE SEAT AROUND SAID METERING OPENING COAXIAL THEREWITH, (I) SAID PARTITION BEING FORMED WITH A LARGE VERTICALLY DIRECTED PARTITION OPENING RELATIVE TO THE SIZE OF SAID METERING OPENING, (J) A STRAIGHT VERTICAL STEM EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PARTITION OPENING COAXIAL THEREWITH AND DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID PASSAGEWAY AND THROUGH SAID METERING OPENING SPACED FROM THE SIDES OF SAID OPENING, (K) A VALVE MEMBER SECURED TO SAID STEM WITHIN SAID PASSAGEWAY SUBSTANTIALLY SPACED FROM THE WALLS OF THE LATTER AND REMOVABLY SEATED ON SAID VALVE SEAT FOR CLOSING SAID METERING OPENING TO FLOW OF WATER THERETHROUGH; (L) A THIN HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED VALVE ACTUATOR DISC CENTRALLY SECURED TO SAID STEM, (M) SAID DISC HAVING AN OUTER MARGINAL PORTION EXTENDING DIVERGENTLY DOWNWARDLY AND TERMINATING IN A FREE GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED EDGE SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE SIDES OF SAID PARTITION OPENING AND OVER AND SPACED ABOVE THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID PARTITION, (N) SAID STEM INCLUDING SAID DISC AND VALVE MEMBER BEING VERTICALLY MOVABLE UPWARDLY AS A UNIT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF WATER FLOWING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID PARTITION OPENING AND AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID DISC, AND MOVABLE DOWNWARDLY SOLELY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GRAVITY TO SEATING POSITION OF SAID VALVE MEMBER AGAINST SAID VALVE SEAT WHEN THE WATER WITHIN SAID BODY IS STATIC. 